“How was the trip?” Arlo butted into the conversation.
“Good business is growing.” Haz talked about drug distribution as though it was nothing. As though it was legal. I swallowed the lump that was growing in my throat.
“I can’t help but notice your little brunette is staying with Alfie?” Rava’s eyes darkened and my gut twisted. I remembered that night at Alfie’s bar and grimaced. I watched as Haz shifted on his feet, steadied by Jay’s hand on his shoulder.
“She’s not my little anything.” His voice was low, husky and I watched as he folded his arms when Arlo and Rava both laughed together, the other lads joined in.
“You could have fooled me.” Arlo smirked at Jay who shook his head. My hands were growing clammy as they spoke about me. I didn’t think we’d been anything but discrete. I shook my head and rested my head against my hand.
“You know shipping to Australia is becoming more difficult? So doing this will be tough.” Jay commented and I watched as Rava’s shoulders rose and fell.
“I have every faith that you’ll do it. We need a meeting on borders actually.” He winked at the two elusive brothers before he looked over his shoulder towards a dirty blonde haired girl. I drew in a sharp intake of breath. She looked awful. Weak, she was swaying from side to side. There was no expression on her face, I placed my hand on the window slightly and felt my chest constrict. Jay held onto Haz’s blazer in an attempt to stop him from walking any further towards her.
“Do you remember her?” Rava presented the tiny blonde girl to him. She looked even smaller next to Rava. Her body was the same size as their arms put together. I frowned and watched as Haz shook his head, anger spreading across his face. “Keep her safe, you wouldn’t want her getting into the wrong hands now would you?” Rava’s tone was patronising and I noticed Jay squeezing Haz’s shoulder.
“She’s nothing to worry about, she’s just around.” Jays tone was flat and my head started to spin. Who was that girl?
“Good. Then he has nothing to worry about.” I watched the smirk rise on his face and then watched as he spit in their direction. I grimaced. They all bundled into the car and I watched Rava throw another bag at Haz.
“For recreation.” He laughed loudly and slammed the door shut before their car screeched out of the car park. My breathing hiked as I studied his expression. He was furious, his arms tensed under Jay’s touch and I burned to touch him and comfort him.
“I had no idea they were gonna pull Holly out Haz.” Jay’s voice was low and I watched as Harry’s head lowered. I opened the door and climbed from the car. My back was against the cool door and I watched as his frown deepened. His eyes were ice cold as he looked in mine. My hands were shaking and I couldn’t cope with the lack of words in the air. I stepped forward and he instantly moved back away from me. A gasp escaped my lips and he shook his head.
“No Av.” He placed his hands up in front of him in a manner to stop me moving any closer towards him. Tears instantly appeared in my eyes and I nodded as I stepped backwards towards the car.
“I’m sorry.” I whispered and felt Jay run his cold hand over the skin on my arm.
“C’mon we should get back?” I was scared to look up at him. I was scared of the feeling of rejection returning. I opened the car door and slid along the leather in the back seat. The tears in my eyes finally escaped and flew freely down my cheeks. I needed to know who that poor girl was and why he’d changed so drastically since he saw her.
Vens
Thoughts of Holly and her massive baby bump plagued my awake thoughts on the drive home. Jay turned off the ignition and we both looked towards her asleep in the back of the car. Her thick hair was half covering her face. My heart pounded just looking at her.
“I know how you feel about her,” Jay’s words were quiet “but what are you going to do? You gonna let her go?” I squeezed my eyes tightly shut for a split second. The thought of never touching her again almost too much to bare.
“They know don’t they? You should have told me sooner that she was your new mark?” I pulled my eyes off her sleepy face and looked at Jay. He shook his head.
“I didn’t even know you’d met her when you did Haz.” I shook my head. “You fell for her then, it wouldn’t have mattered when I told you? I have been telling you to stay away from her.” My chest tensed at his words.
“I haven’t fallen for her.” He raised his brow. My words were sharp and I watched him shake his head. “If she was a bitch this would have been easy I’d have taken her to him myself but look at her Jay.” His eyes left mine and focused on her asleep in the car. “She’s the most pure thing I’ve ever seen in my life.” He nodded and cleared his throat.
“What the fuck do they want with her Haz?” I shrugged at his question. She’d got to know what was going on. The reason why we’d been keeping her so guarded.
“I dunno, but she needs to know what’s going on? We can’t keep sharing half our lives with her,” I found my eyes wandering back towards her and watched her face twist in her sleep. “We’re hurting her Jay.” I felt his hand against my shoulder, the pressure of his squeeze making me acknowledge that I was staring at her. His mud brown eyes looked tortured and were most definitely a mirror image of mine.
“She
